Every pharmacy in Wales will offer free Type 2 diabetes risk assessments for a fortnight in a bid to find the 66,000 people thought to have undiagnosed diabetes.

From Monday 13 June, which falls during Diabetes Week, every Welsh pharmacy will offer simple paper-based assessments to identify people at risk of developing the condition in the next 10 years.

The assessments look at risk factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI), waist size, ethnicity and family history to assess risk and, where appropriate, those at risk will be advised how they can reduce their risk by improving their lifestyle.

Those most at risk will be referred to their GP or practice nurse for a diabetes test.

The campaign, which is solely happening in Wales, has been organised by Diabetes UK Cymru and Community Pharmacy Wales and is one of up to six public health campaigns required of community pharmacists by the seven Health Boards as part of their contract.

The campaign is also being supported by BMA Cymru, Public Health Wales, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

A similar initiative organised by Diabetes UK Cymru and Community Pharmacy Wales in August 2009 saw more than 20,000 people undergo assessments.

More than 153,000 people are now diagnosed with diabetes in Wales and it is estimated that a further 66,000 people¹ - around one in 50 - have the condition and do not know it.

The vast majority of this 66,000 have Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the condition which is often, but not always, associated with being overweight.

People can live with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes for up to 10 years and half of those people will have developed the condition's complications, which include heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, by the time they are diagnosed.

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: "Diabetes UK Cymru is delighted that every pharmacy in Wales will be offering free Type 2 diabetes risk assessments for a fortnight this June, starting during Diabetes Week.

"Diabetes is increasing rapidly in Wales and it is terrifying that one in 50 people here are thought to be living with undiagnosed diabetes.

"I would urge everyone concerned about whether they are at risk to visit their local pharmacy in mid June for a free assessment.

"The sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner it can be controlled and the risk of its devastating complications, such as heart disease, strokes and kidney disease, reduced."

Russell Goodway, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Wales, said: "We are very pleased that this is the first all-Wales public health campaign run through community pharmacies.

"The local high street pharmacy is the ideal starting point for people to get to know their health, what risks they may be under and how to reduce those risks.

"We hope that through this initiative local pharmacies can help many people in Wales to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future."

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, Chair of Public Health Wales, said: "I am very pleased to see the support that this campaign is receiving from partners across Wales.

"This campaign is a major step in the right direction.

"Encouraging more people to have a free risk assessment for Type 2 diabetes will lead to earlier diagnoses.

"This in turn gives a greater chance of bringing the condition under control thus offsetting the risks of cardiovascular disease and other conditions associated with diabetes mellitus."

Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90 per cent of diabetes cases and happens when the body is either not making enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being aged 40 or more, or 25 or more for people from minority ethnic communities, being overweight, having a close family history of the condition and having a large waist.

At risk waist sizes are 37 inches or more for men, or 35 inches or more for South Asian men, or 31.5 inches or more for all women.

[1] Estimates from The Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) Diabetes Prevalence Model, link to full Wales breakdown

Source
Diabetes UK Cymru